Showalter pregame on Miley, Jimenez and more

TORONTO - As the Orioles play six big games in their final two series of the 2016 regular season, will Buck Showalter manage any differently? He knows the standings show his team just one game behind Toronto for the American League's first wild card as a three-game series with the Blue Jays begins tonight.

"We'll see what the game dictates," Showalter said this afternoon in the visitors' dugout. "The game usually tells you what you should do and not do. But we understand the sense of finality. There are probably a few things you'll do different if the game dictates it. We'll let the game decide how we can put our best foot forward.

"We know mathematically what it means. But it doesn't do anybody any good to state the obvious. We'll give it the attention that it needs."

O's left-hander Wade Miley left the team for the birth of his son in Louisiana. He will rejoin the Orioles later this week.

"He is going to fly to New York Thursday or Friday, depending on when he is pitching," Showalter said. "He is going to take a work day (throwing a bullpen session) there at his local college. I think he is going to be on (the) paternity leave (list). I'm sure it is just a clerical thing. Obviously, we are not going to replace him (on the roster)."

Showalter confirmed the series rotation for the Orioles that the club announced officially this morning with Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.84 ERA) pitching tomorrow and Ubaldo Jimenez (7-12, 5.71 ERA) starting Thursday night.

Showalter was asked why Jimenez got the Thursday start.

"You look at his last six starts, they've been as good as you want to see," Showalter said. "We're fortunate to have some guys pitching well now. Think it is important this time of year to give guys some extra time if you can. There is a lot of wear and tear of the season. You can make a case for or against anybody if you wanted to. They're all going to have to pitch. I think Ubaldo has earned that and has certainly been one of our better pitchers his last six or seven starts."

Jimenez is 2-2 with a 2.85 ERA over six starts since Aug. 25. That includes an outing at home on Aug. 30 when he got a no-decison in an Orioles win over Toronto. In that game he went 6 2/3 innings allowing five hits and three runs.